RAWALPINDI: An accountability court in Rawalpindi adjourned on Tuesday the hearing over the assets reference recently re-opened against PPP Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari to May 13 after his counsel Senator Farooq H. Naek submitted a request for his exemption from appearance citing medical reasons.

Speaking to journalists outside the court premises, Naek said he had submitted a request along with Zardari's medical report before the court seeking exemption for the former president from appearing for today's hearing since he had not been feeling well.

He added that the court accepting his request adjourned the hearing to May 13.

Responding to a question about the reference, Naek said his client had been implicated in a false and frivolous case.

According to the reference, Zardari and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto are accused of illegally acquiring their assets. The case was also tried in a Swiss court.

Read: Corruption cases against Zardari reopened

Senator Farooq H. Naek had earlier said that the government had reopened the case on the request of the National Accountability Bureau. The reference against the former president was closed in 2010.

According to PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar, Zardari had arrived in Islamabad on Monday night in order to appear in court as the former president had decided to fight the case vigorously since all other accused in the case had already been acquitted.